We were on the road earlier than usual (8am), only because we knew there were a number of events on at Hughenden and we didn't want to miss out on a spot at the free camp. It was only a short drive, so we didn't stop for mornos and were set up at the Hughenden RV Campground a little after 9:30am.
After mornos, we hit the roads of Hughenden on our bikes. We had been here two years earlier so knew the lie of the land and covered a fair bit of the area. Nothing much had changed, but it was a nice ride nevertheless. The river had a little more water in it, although it's still mainly sand. Back to the van for lunch, and a little rest. Greg then rode with Bob, and Wendy and Noel went for a walk around town.
Dinner was takeaway Chinese that the men walked in to pick up. We all enjoyed our respective meals. All afternoon we had been watching the horse floats arrive at the showgrounds next door. There were some as big a semi-trailers, others small, some very fancy. Certainly a lot of money tied up in horses. All the while, we heard the whinny of the horses being unloaded and asking to be ridden; a very nice sound, even if you don't like horses. In Hughenden this weekend is the Hughenden Country Music Festival and the Flinders Classic Challenge and Camp Draft, so camping space is a premium. The RV Campground was full about midday, and still travellers kept coming in to try and find a spot, even after 4pm!
We enjoyed our Chinese on tables and chairs set up between the two vans with a glass of our favourite tipple. It was getting a tad cool, so we called it a night, washed up, then watched an episode of "8 Out of 10 Cats". A very pleasant, unrushed day out on the road.
Drive scenery - clouds in the sky, a novelty
Cattle at the Hughenden Showgrounds for the Campdraft
Hughenden Recreational Lake
The Hughenden Comet windmill
The 5 Pillars of Hughenden
Public amenities murals
Flinders River, Queensland's longest river, about 1,004km
Hughenden Masonic Centre
Flinders Shire Council building
Town clock
A couple of old dinosaurs (Greg told Wendy to write this!)
Murals around town
War memorial / cenotaph
Water Tower art
Water flowing over the road, and an arty shot of the water
Flinders River
The water is very clear and surprisingly warm
There was no water in the Flinders last time we were here two years ago and we were able to ride this crossing
A short cut into town from the camp ground, a little wet this time
The campground from the Lake
Hughenden Recreational Lake
Water tank art
More murals
Robert Gray Memorial Park
Hughenden RV Free Camp from above
Views of Hughenden, the Flinders River, and free camp
The two specs at the bottom of the photo are Greg and Bob on their bikes
Us at the camp grounds from ground level
